Ethnic tensions have erupted into violence in Tibet and mainly Muslim Xinjiang

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2008 July - China and Russia sign a treaty ending 40-year-old border dispute which led to armed clashes during the Cold War.

2008 August - Beijing hosts Olympic Games.

Hua Guofeng, who succeeded Mao Zedong for a short period in 1976, dies in Beijing aged 87

2008 September - Astronaut Zhai Zhigang completes China's first spacewalk during the country's third manned space mission, Shenzhou VII.